By 
Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions reached 200.3 million in September 2026, representing a significant recovery in the country’s telecommunications market following the sharp decline triggered by enforcement of the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage policy.
The rebound, however, remains heavily concentrated among the country’s two largest mobile network operators, MTN and Airtel, which together account for approximately 86% of active connections. Globacom and T2 continue to hold considerably smaller shares of the market.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that MTN recorded 104.6 million active subscriptions in September, while Airtel had 68 million. Together, the two operators accounted for approximately 172.7 million connections. Globacom recorded 23.5 million, while T2 had 3.6 million active subscriptions.
The milestone reflects a recovery in reported mobile connections following the extensive SIM verification and disconnection exercise introduced to enforce compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage requirement.
However, the 200 million figure represents active mobile subscriptions rather than the number of Nigerians who own or use mobile phones. Individuals may have multiple SIM cards, while active connections also include SIMs used in routers and other connected devices.
NIN-SIM enforcement triggered sharp decline in subscriptions
The increase marks a significant milestone since the full enforcement of the NIN-SIM linkage policy in 2024, which resulted in a substantial reduction in Nigeria’s reported mobile subscriptions.
Introduced in 2020, the policy requires mobile subscribers to link their telephone lines to verified National Identification Numbers. Enforcement intensified in 2024 as telecommunications operators completed the verification process and disconnected lines without valid NIN records.
According to the NCC’s 2024 year-end performance report, active mobile subscriptions fell from 224.7 million in 2023 to 164.9 million in 2024. This represented a loss of 59.8 million connections, equivalent to a 26.6% decline.
The commission attributed the reduction to the removal of SIM cards that were not linked to verifiable NINs, alongside the correction of a significant discrepancy in the subscriber figures reported by one mobile network operator.
The regulator had earlier announced in August 2024 that more than 153 million SIM cards had been linked to NINs, representing 96% compliance. It subsequently established September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for operators to complete the linkage exercise.
The subsequent recovery in active subscriptions points to renewed growth in the mobile market following the regulatory clean-up, although the distribution of connections remains uneven across operators.
Data consumption rises as demand for connectivity expands
The recovery in mobile subscriptions has coincided with an increase in data consumption, reflecting growing demand for internet connectivity and digital services.
Mobile data usage rose by approximately 51% year-on-year in September 2026 to 1.73 million terabytes. Despite this growth, the transition towards faster mobile network technologies remains uneven.
The NCC’s figures show that 4G accounted for 54.37% of mobile connections, making it the dominant network technology. However, 2G still represented 36.42% of connections, while 3G accounted for 4.16%. Fifth-generation (5G) connectivity remained relatively limited at 5.05%.
The figures highlight the continued presence of older network technologies in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape, even as demand for data-intensive services increases.
Fibre broadband infrastructure records significant growth
Beyond mobile connectivity, Nigeria is also recording expansion in fixed broadband infrastructure.
NCC data indicate that Fibre-to-the-X (FTTX) subscriptions increased by approximately 67% between the first and third quarters of 2026. The technology covers fibre connections deployed to homes, offices, streets and distribution hubs.
The growth suggests an expansion of fibre-based access beyond mobile networks, providing another channel through which households and businesses can access broadband services.
The development comes amid increasing reliance on digital connectivity for business operations, communication and access to online services.
Telecommunications contribution to GDP increases
The telecommunications sector is also maintaining a growing contribution to Nigeria’s economic activity.
According to the reported figures, the sector accounted for 9.72% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 9.20% in the corresponding period of 2025.
The NCC noted that figures recorded in late 2024 and early 2025 were affected by the National Bureau of Statistics’ GDP rebasing exercise.
The combination of rising mobile subscriptions, higher data consumption and expanding fibre infrastructure reflects the continued importance of telecommunications to Nigeria’s digital economy. However, the concentration of active connections among MTN and Airtel, alongside the relatively low adoption of 5G, highlights the uneven nature of growth across the market.
Comments